Jack's interest was now thoroughly aroused.
"What," he said, "you're not going to run a rival show to the Gazette?"
The Deepwater Gazette was the somewhat staid official journal of the College, which issued twice a year, and was religiously bought by the collegers, who read nothing of it excepting the sporting records. Patch showed, by a shake of his head, that he did not mean to push the official paper out of business.
"No, comrade," he said; "our paper will be brighter, full of snappy snips, and nifty news, quips and jests. This is a small printing-press"—he indicated the machine on the table—"and we'll turn out any number of copies, and—"
"Hold hard," said Jack suddenly, interrupting him, "I've just remembered...."
He went on to tell the tale of the plot that the Cripples were preparing against them. When he had come to the end of his recital his companions whistled concernedly. But he went on—speaking in a low voice to them as they sat attentively listening to him—to outline a scheme for the reversal of the proposed jape. When he had finished they were both grinning broadly.
"Comrade," said Patch, "you have some of the elements of the practical joker in you."
"It'll be a tremendous thud for Cummles and his bright boys, at any rate," Jack assured him. "And Simpole isn't the only one who can take photographs!"